Advertising mechanism.



A. GOTTSCHALK & J. S. HOLLOWELL.

ADVERTISING MECHANISM.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 2. I914.

1,140, 75.- Patented May 25, 1915.

IHE NORRIS PETERS C0,. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

ALBERT GOTTSGI-IALK AND JAMES S. HOLLOWEIJIJ, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADVERTISING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. May 25, 1915.

Application filed May 2, 1914. Serial No. 835,897.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALBERT GoT'rsoHALK, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, (having declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and JAMES S. HOLLOWELL, a citizen of the United States, both residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in 'Advertising Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention consists of mechanism par ticularly designed for use in connection with advertising signs and especially those in which representations of circles, wheels or eyes can be advantageously employed.

One object of our invention is toproduce sign mechanism of the above type which in addition to'being attractive shall be plainly visible both day and-night.

These objects and other advantageous ends we attain as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating our invention; Fig.2 is a transverse section on the line a-a Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the movable elements in positions different from those which they are shown as occupying in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one form of sign equipped with our invention; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken onthe line 12-?) Fig. 4:; Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section on the line c-c Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the movable elements of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a ring having on one edge an inwardly extending flange 2, and provided with a band 3 secured adjacent its other edge by screws 4 in position to serve as an abutment for an inwardly extending ring 5. The latter has a number of radially extending notches 6 into which project the pivot pins 7 of a series of semiannular spring metal leaves 8 and has secured to it a handle 9 serving as a lever whereby it may be oscillated. The leaves 8 also have projecting pivot pins 10 j ournaled in the flange 2 of the ring 1 in such manner that when the handle 9 is-moved from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 1 said leaves are swung on said pins from the generally concentric positions to the positions shown in Fig. 3. As a result the middle part of each leaf is moved toward the center of the notched ring 8.

A disk 11 is inserted within the ring 1 and in the present instance is secured to the ring 5 so as to be fully visible when the leaves are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 but covered, with the exception of a small central portion, when the leaves are moved into the positions shown in Fig. 2. This disk is made of colored paper, glass, or other transparent or semi-transparent material, in the present instance having a colored central spot 12 designed to represent the pupil of an eye, while the remaining or outer portion is colored to represent the iris of the eye as shown in Fig. 4. With the above arrangement and construction if the handle 9 is oscillated the leaves 8 will be moved alternately toward and from the central spot or pupil portion 12.

In Figs. 4: to 6 inclusive we have shown a sign employing four of the devices just described, secured two to each of the face plates 13 and 14 of a sign casing 15. These plates are preferably made of glass and in the present instance are each painted to represent the face of an owl while each of the above described devices is secured in any desirable manner so as to register with the eye portion of the face and be visible therethrough. A motor 16 is secured to a standard 17 within the casing 15 and to its armature shaft is attached a worm 18 driving a worm wheel 19 which is rotatably mounted on a fixed support 20. The worm wheel 19 serves to rotate a crank arm 21 connected by a link 22 to one of the arms 9, and the latter actuates a second arm 9 through a link 23 as shown in Fig. 6, so that as the motor operates both of said arms 9 will be oscillated and the leaves of each device will alternately cover and uncover the iris portions of the eyes.

In order that the sign may be readily seen at night we provide electric or other lamps 2 1 nioimted inthe casing preferably adjacent the center lines of the two pairs of eyes so as toilluminate the same.

In the operation of the above described mechanism the leaves 8 of each device will be alternately moved toward and from the center lines of the notched rings 5 so that the eyes of the owl or other face shown on the disks are apparently continually opening and closing. Obviously the resulting successive changes of expression of the face or faces including the above noted features of our invention are startling and hold the attention of an observer.

anism of a While the particular sign illustrated in the drawings is especially designed for the use of oculists, Opticians or others concerned in the sale of eye glasses, it will be understood that the invention may be employed in the construction of signs of other forms and structures without departing from said invention. 7

Although we prefer to use the means shown for operating the notched rings 5 to secure the desired operation of the device it will be understood that other mechanism may be employed without departing from our invention.

\Ve claim l. The combination in an advertising device of a pictured representation including a plurality of members; and automatically operating mechanism for repeatedly moving said members to cause variation. in the appearance of said representation,

2. The combination in an advertising device of a pictured representation including a plurality of members; and automatically operating mechanism for repeatedly moving said members toward and away from a common center to cause variation in the appearance of said representation. 7

3. The combination in an advertising device of a pictured representation including a plurality of series of members; and means for automatically operating the members of each series to repeatedly move them toward and away from common centers.

4. The combination in an advertising device of a pictured representation including a plurality of series of overlapping members; and means for automatically operating the members of each series to repeatedly .move them toward and away from common' centers.

5. The combination in advertising mechpictured representation having a plurality of series of overlapped leaves; and mechanism common to all of said series for continuously varying the amount of their overlap.

6. The combination in an advertising device of a pictured representation including a plurality of overlapping members; and automatically operating mechanism for repeatedly moving said members to vary the amount of their overlap to cause variation in the appearance of said representation.

7. The combination in an advertising design vice of a pictured face having an eye portion; a series of overlapping leavesadjacent said portion; and means for moving the leaves toward and away from the middle of the eye portion to vary the expression of said face.

8. The combination in an advertising device of a ring having an inwardly projecting flange defining an opening; a second ring having an opening in line with said first opening to form a light passage; a colored transparent-member positioned between said fiange and the second ring and extendingacross the openings; a plurality of leaves movably connected to said rings; and means for relatively moving said rings to move the leaves into and out of said passage.

9. The combination in an advertising of a pictured facehaving an opening forming an, eye; a plurality of overlapping leaves; with means for moving said leaves across and away from the opening to vary U the expression of saidface. V

10. The combination in an advertising sign of a pictured face having openings representing eyes; a plurality of overlapping leaves; with means for automatically moving said leaves alternately across and away from said openings to cause variations of the expression of said face.

11. The combination in an advertising device of a casing; a plurality of overlapping leaves movably mounted. on said casing; automatic means for repeatedly moving the leaves to provide an opening continuously varying in size; and illuminating means within said casing in line with said opening.

12. The combination of ries of movably leaves; 7 leaves; means operatively connecting the arms; and mechanism for automatically operating said means to. alternately cause a plurality of seconnected overlapping an arm for each of said series ofopening and closing of the passage through c said leaves. j 1

In testimony whereof, wehave signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- ALBERT, GOTTSCHALK.

JAMES S. HOLLOl/VELL. V W'itnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, Jos.-' H.'KLnIN.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G.# I 

